The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-09-08
In a Tigers Mouth.
Can't. Bradford's Thrilling Ad-
venture The Stsry as Mar.
rated by Himself.

The Times of India, some time
ago published the following: "As
a young officer doing duty with p
Madras cavalry regiment, Sir
Edward Bradford was keen
sportsman. One day, when III
9 ger:shooiing, be missed his mark
and soon found himself in "a I'll
gers clutches. 1t was an anxious
momell, few OF his friends being
at hand. AS a sportsman of eX=
perience, Sir Edward knew we'll
that his best course was TO lie
quietly and sham death. The IL
ger surveyed his prey, looked
around. and thinking all was safe,
set steadily 10 work TO make its
meal. Taking the young officers
hand in his mouth it was steadily
disposed of. and he arm chewed
10 The elbow before Sir Edwards
companions came up and releas-
| ed him. The cool resolution Of
the man in feigning death had
been the means of Of saving what
has SINCE proved 10 be most
valuable life, for had lie moved or
uttered even a groan, ilIe tiger
would have put an end 10 his ex-
istence before going on with his
1epast.
This story coming 10 the eve
of a gentleman in Alabama, he
sent the following version of The
affair to The Pensacola (Fla.) Ad-
vance Gazette: In 1870 l met
Captain Bradford at Jeypoor, |
IN Rajppootana, India, where he
was resident political agent. He
was indeed a man of clear grit
and a thorough gentleman his
coat sleeve was quite empty,
though with his other arm he
could and did handle small shot
gun and was still fond of shoot
ing. His taste for tiger shooting
was however. gone. From him l
learned that he and some of his
fellow officers were out on a IL
ger hunt, and were in a line some
distance from each other, await
ing the coming of a long line OF
beaters, who, with their horns,
shrill pipes, drums, yells, etc.,
were driving the game before
them. Bradford's stand was next
10 river; he thought 1t advisable
to get up tree, and unfortunate
ly selected one with a sloping
trunk, he then went out on a
large branch where he could get
a fair sight, and awaited events
presently a Tiger came sneaking
along, every now and then look
ing back in the direction of the
noise from which it was fying.-
Bradford fired, mortaIly wound
ing the tiger, who looked up and
caught sight of him. With a
hoarse erowl of rage it rushed up
the sloping trunk Ga tiger can't
climb straight tree) and came
ont along the branch, to reek lis
Bradford raised his double bar
relied rifle, took aim and pulled
Lhe trigger, the tiger being quite
close, but ihe hammer in falling
caught twig. The cap did not
explode; there was no time to
:ecock. Oie thought. one hope,
1ashed in his mind. lie dropped
he rifle and sprang into the riv
sr. The tiger would not follow
lin: there He was mistaken
)ne moment and it was after
him. Automatically. without
showing it, he pat out one arm to
end off his danger; this the tiger
eized and dragged HIM ashore.
Bradford had tainted. He felt
he one pang when the powerful
aw closed on his arm, crushing
he bone like an egg shell, and
or some time he knew no more.
When he regained conscious
less the MORALLY wounded tiger
vas lying with its head and one
luge paw across his chest, weight
ng HIM down, his arm in the IT,
.er's mouth, his hot breath on his
ace it had crushed his arm from
wrist to shoulder.
did you feel any pain or
ear?" l asked.
mo pain or fear, only a numb
ii feeling of the brain, and sensa-
ION of hopelessness that my last
'our had come. that death was near"
"What time had elapsed he did
lot know. Just then an officer and
me of The native troopers came
unning up. The officer tried to
axe aim, but the tigers body was
o that he could not shoot it without
Ianser to tbe man beneath 1t. The
avildar never hesitated, but rush
d in and drove his tulwar through
he tigers heart, rolling it of the
'ody of the cffirer.
bradford was loved by his men,
Tho would have followed him to the
cath and risked snytlIing for him
''An express messenger was dis-
alchcd to the cantonment for the
lrgeop, and Bradford put on an
,,nrny,eol I,ttar o.,,,,,l a., .o. |